Source record
Effects of vegetarian diets on blood lipids: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Fenglei Wang, Jusheng Zheng, Bo Yang, Jiajing Jiang, Yuanqing Fu, Duo Li (2015). Journal of the American Heart Association.
Key findings
- Vegetarian diets lowered total and LDL cholesterol in randomised trials compared with control diets.
Record
- Source type
- Meta Analysis
- Study type
- Randomised Controlled Trial
- Topics
- Heart & blood vessels
- Geography
- Multiple countries
- Sample size
- 11 randomised trials
- Funding & conflicts
- Not recorded.
- Source quality
- Moderate evidence
Limitations
- Trials were short and small; outcomes were cholesterol levels rather than heart attacks.
Claims this source supports
HealthModerate evidence
Vegetarian and vegan diets are associated with lower cholesterol and around a quarter lower relative risk of ischaemic heart disease.
People eating plant-based diets have fewer heart attacks on average. Trials show these diets lower cholesterol, which supports a causal link.
Cite this record
Effects of vegetarian diets on blood lipids: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. The Balance of Health. https://thebalanceofhealth.com/sources/wang-2015-vegetarian-diets-blood-lipids-meta-analysis